Rinker Tour
randy56
Member Posts: 4,083 ✭✭✭✭✭
When Rinker anounced that Tours were going to be open to the public. I had to go. As How its made TV show is my favorate show. So 7/29/16 I went. First let me say if you own a Rinker you have a very fine boat. I met a fellow by the name of Mark, he spent an hour and a half with me as my guide. I was the only one on the tour. Mark has been with the company 29 years. A very decatated man to his company. Did not get to meet Kim Slocum, he had taken a new QX29 bow rider home with him for the weekend for testing.
After learning the history, and hiccups, and problems with ownership and past management of the company. I can say you will see a come back of Rinker. With Kim back at the helm. As when our economy when south a few years ago it took a toll on the boating world, and is slowly recovering. They now have a show room at the plant for dealers and coustmers to veiw. (something new) Next week they have invited all Rinker Dealers. To inspect and view new models and upgrades.
Even though the company had hardships on management/ownership side, the workmanship did not suffer. They are on a 4 day 10 hour shift at this time, so there were very few at work. The ones I meet where seasoned, trained professionals. Every boat is made to order. Custom made. A dealer fills out a sheet of what is wanted color, eng, options, ect. No robots, all hand made.
Some of you live far away and could not make such a trip. Just want to share what I saw. Only took a few pictures, as being busy asking questions, and learning new features.
After learning the history, and hiccups, and problems with ownership and past management of the company. I can say you will see a come back of Rinker. With Kim back at the helm. As when our economy when south a few years ago it took a toll on the boating world, and is slowly recovering. They now have a show room at the plant for dealers and coustmers to veiw. (something new) Next week they have invited all Rinker Dealers. To inspect and view new models and upgrades.
Even though the company had hardships on management/ownership side, the workmanship did not suffer. They are on a 4 day 10 hour shift at this time, so there were very few at work. The ones I meet where seasoned, trained professionals. Every boat is made to order. Custom made. A dealer fills out a sheet of what is wanted color, eng, options, ect. No robots, all hand made.
Some of you live far away and could not make such a trip. Just want to share what I saw. Only took a few pictures, as being busy asking questions, and learning new features.
Boat Name :
Comments
Steve, no question that is an EC 310 with the Raymarine E series touch screen GPS. No Axius but would be easy to handle if it had 350 mags although those throttles look Volvo so maybe it has the new Volvo 380s?
Looks like the new (highly rated) bamboos carpets!
That hard top is amazing. Over 7 feet of headroom at the helm. Super solid underway and makes R&Ring the canvas a breeze.
From what I have seen from Rinker so far the GLORY DAYS are back!.....Maybe even better than before!
Now there are letting Rinker be there own company with out corperate interfearance. They are running a little over 100 employe"s at this time.
Every boat goes into a water tank, for testing, I think 140 point. Start Eng, genny, AC, Put it in gear, forward , reverse, check for leaks. They take pride in there product.
Gas tanks, as we all know about, in the smaller boats they are now useing a plastic tank, in bigger boats they are useing, and alumium tank but it is coated.
As a boater when something breaks or fails. You want to blame Rinker, well it is just maintance. As they are useing premium products and components.
Mercruiser is in there off and on testing and supporting, helping set up, to make them run propertly, and fuel efficant.
Mark
2019 MTX20 Extreme
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
I would love to get to the factory. I know I could convince the admiral to go see her parents in Illinois, and I could side trip to Rinker. Hmmm....
Go Steelers!!!
If you can picture in your mind your boat being in to halfs. Top and bottom. in the prosess, they assemble componants in both top and bottom half, before sandwiching the two together. Engine, generator, water heater, cabinets, carpet, wireing, builge pumps, cleets, plumbing, upholstery, ect. as it is easy to get to at that time. The bottom half is resting on a dolly, a create with wheels similer to a trailer with 4 wheels. the top half also on a dolly, so they can roll the half's around the plant. when its time to marry the two, they pick up top half with a over head crane and set it on the bottom half.
They use a very strong sealant, caulking/glue if you will to marry the two halfs together, as well as ss screws 3 times, At one time being proud of there sealant. as a test, they put a boat together, with sealant only, let it set over nite, then the next day picked the whole boat up with the overhead crane, without any screws and it held together. Good stuff!.
In the best of times, boat sales, RV sales, great cash flow in the country was good.it was in 2006. And thats when Rinker had a hayday, I think Al was there at that time. They had at that time over 500 employees, and was cranking out 75 boats a week.
Lake Wawasee, much bigger deeper nice lake, and again multi million dollar homes all around it, docks and boats every where.
@cable I cannot help it, but Lucas Oil stadium is just about 2.5 hours south.
Go Steelers!!!
@ cable, Proud of ya!
Example: on a dissission earlier this week about the 272 and 282. and sorry i do not know which one came first. and how long they built each model, but lets say they built a 272 for 5 years,. then changed the model to 282 for the next 5 years, the reason is all about sales and marketing. But its the same boat. The dealers and Rinker can premote an exciting new model. Instead of haveing one model forever. For me its easy to get confused, does not take much, about model numbers when they were built. And whats the differance. If any. Maybe some of you have it figured out. Like Handy says it would be neat to have log book of models and specs. and the years built.
Also I did not know a 342 was a 37ft, thinking it was 34ft. Maybe some day I can be like you rich guys and get a 342.
Hey did someone turn on the spell check, thanks i need it.
Go Steelers!!!
Thanks for sharing the auto museum, did not know about it. Would have been a good side trip. I visited there web site, cool cars.